A TAXI driver assaulted a colleague and damaged his car after an all-day drinking binge, Worcester Crown Court was told.

Richard Jenkins had spent £45 on booze which included 12 pints of beer and five or six other drinks, said Michael Aspinall, prosecuting.

He took a taxi to Spennells in Kidderminster but refused to pay the £3.20 fare, punched driver Malik Hussain and smashed a rear light in his cab.

Jenkins, 39, of Woodfield Street, Kidderminster, who admitted making off without payment, common assault and criminal damage, was ordered to do 60 hours unpaid work for the community.

He also had to pay £300 court costs and £100 compensation to Mr Hussain.

Nicolas Cartwright, defending, said Jenkins had since paid £135 to cover the damage to the Central Taxis cab and for the lost fare. He had also sold his taxi and hackney carriage licence and had started up as an HGV driver.